p+0 architecture cantilevers casa narigua over the mountains of northern mexico

‘casa narigua’ by p+0 architecture, el jonuco, mexico
image © sofia flores chapa
all images courtesy of p+0 architecture

mexican practice p+0 arquitectura has recently completed the narigua house in the mountains of northern mexico. in order to avoid eliminating trees from the heavily vegetated area, the concept of the home became centered around lifting it above the ground therefore leaving the ecosystem intact. three volumes are stacked upon one another, different shapes layered in various orientations form dramatic cantilevers and subsequent terraces, viewpoints, and vertically-communicative spaces. 

view from below the site
image © sofia flores chapa

the home is cast in orthogonal exposed concrete tinted with soil from the site so as to become almost a geological incident rather than a man-made feat. the ground level plinth contains the garage right off the main road, storage rooms with furniture that could become guest bedrooms, and a mechanical room that frees the rooftop for a deck with 360-degree views. the next floor contains the main entrance area for visitors, the master suite, and the staircase leading down to the lower level. on top of everything, the kitchen, dining, and living areas enjoy the company of breathtaking scenery and access to one of many outdoor terraces, decks, and nooks- especially on the west side where two jagged peaks in the nearby distance almost touch.

view above the site
image © sofia flores chapa

a delicate play between thickened walls, flat roofs, ethereal windows and heavy timber beams allow inhabitants to experience each face of every form, while the glimpses of the external scenery become a fact of everyday life. the materials also recall an important vernacular in the region, however abstracted into modernity they may be. the house becomes an interactive sculpture with planned spaces that hold as much functionality and beauty as those in between.

approaching the house
image © sofia flores chapa

cantilevered volumes stretch across the landscape
image © sofia flores chapa

the materials reflect the natural context
image © sofia flores chapa

each volume frames a different aspect of the landscape
image © sofia flores chapa

exterior stairs to the second level
image © sofia flores chapa

outdoor patio area
image © sofia flores chapa

pool on a terrace overlooking the valley
image © sofia flores chapa

incorporating native vegetation into the plan
image © sofia flores chapa

patio under the cantilevered form
image © sofia flores chapa

external stairs
image © sofia flores chapa

rooftop terrace
image © sofia flores chapa

strong rectilinear geometries differentiate the built form from the mountain landscape
image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

 
foyer
image © sofia flores chapa

hallway and stairs
image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

living area
image © sofia flores chapa

bedroom
image © sofia flores chapa

living and dining
image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

kitchen
image © sofia flores chapa

bathroom
image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

gym
image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

image © sofia flores chapa

project info:

location: el jonuco, mexico.
project: may 2011- september 2013
area: 7875 sqm
architecture: david pedroza castañeda. (p+0 architecture)  
construction: paralelo. arturo barbosa, hyaell briones, beatriz chavez.
structural engineering: emilio gonzalez saucedo
construction supervision phase 1: punto 3. jesus gonzález, diego gonzalez.
collaborators interior design: adriana guisa, oswaldo salazar.